Applicator cover for container



Dec. 7, 1965 R. MORONI ETAL 3,221,359

APPLICATOR COVER FOR CONTAINER Filed June 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROLF MORONI PETER KISTENEICH 8. BY PETER JOSEF BREUER ATTORNE S Dec. 7, 1965 R. MORONI ETAL 3,221,359

APPLICATOR COVER FOR CONTAINER Filed June 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 so 94 H68 92 INVENTORS ROLF MORON! PETER KISTENEICH 8. PETER JOSEF BREUER 5% GAJ-A A ORNEYS United States Patent 3,221,359 APPLICATQR CQVER FOR CONTAINER Rolf Moroni, Hersel, near Bonn, Peter Kisteneich, Spich, near Troisdorf, and Peter Josef Breuer, Mondorf, near Troisdorf, Germany, assignors to Collo-Rheincollodium, Kiiln G.m.b.H. Werk Hersel, Hersel, near Bonn, Germany Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,484 Claims priority, application Germany, July 20, 1962, C 27,510; Aug. 11, 1962, C 27,695 4 Claims. (Cl. 15517) The present invention pertains to the art of covers or lids for containers and more particularly to a cover or lid having combined therewith an applicator to be used for dispensing the material Within a container.

The present invention is particularly applicable to an applicator cover for a container filled with a paste-like material or a volatile liquid, and the invention will be discussed with particular reference thereto; however, it is to be appreciated that the invention has much broader applications and may be used as an applicator cover for various substances both volatile and non-volatile.

In a container for paste-like materials, such as shoe Wax, floor wax, abrasives and metal cleaners, and for liquids, such as shoe polish, it is common practice to incorporate an applicator with the container which applicator is used for dispensing the material within the container. Such applicators are often secured onto the top of the cover so that the cover must be inverted before the applicator may be used, secured onto the bottom of the cover so that the applicator extends downwardly into the container, or positioned randomly within the container beneath the cover. All of these arrangements provide an empty space between the cover and the surface of the material within the container which space increases as the material is used. As the space beneath the cover increases, the removal of the material from the container becomes quite difficult and, in the case of volatile liquids, such as paints and varnishes, the space above the liquid causes evaporation of the liquid and often leads to crusting of the upper surface of the liquid.

These and other disadvantages are overcome by the present invention which is directed toward an applicator cover for a container which cover eliminates the empty space between the material within the container and the cover.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an applicator cover for a container having a base and a cover receiving chamber defined by a peripheral wall which chamber has substantially the same general shape in all planes extending through the chamber and parallel to the base. The applicator cover comprises a body portion with a lower wall and side walls each of the walls substantially matching the general shape of the container chamber and being so dimensioned to allow reciprocal movement of the body portion within the chamber with the lower wall of the body portion remaining substantially parallel with the base of the container. Also, a cover includes an absorbent pad secured onto the lower wall and below the body portion of the cover which absorbent pad has a periphery generally matching the general shape of the container chamber.

By constructing the applicator cover in accordance with the present invention, the cover may be moved downwardly within the container until the absorbent pad, which forms the applicator, rests on the upper surface of the material within the container. Consequently there is no empty space above the material even after a substantial portion of the material has been removed from the container. This prevents rapid evaporation of the material and substantially lessens the tendency of the material to form an upper oxidized crust. In addition, the cover may 3,221,359 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 be pushed downwardly within the container to compress the absorbent pad or applicator against the upper surface of the material Within the container so that the pad is forced outwardly against the walls of the container to seal the space between the cover and the container.

The absorbent pad on the lower portion of the cover body does not require frequent cleaning because the pad does not tend to dry out when it is in contact with the upper surface of the material within the container. In addition, the applicator pad is ready for instantaneous use because the pad remains filled with material at all times. Since the cover is forced downwardly into the container until the absorbent or applicator pad reaches the upper surface of the material within the container, the position of the cover within the container is a convenient way of determining the level of the material therein.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator cover for a container which cover is economical to produce and effective in operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator cover for a container which cover is movable downwardly into the container so that the cover rests upon the upper surface of the material within the container.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator cover for a container which cover includes a lower absorbent pad that rests upon the upper surface of the material within the container so that the pad is filled with the material and is ready for instantaneous use when the cover is removed from the container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator cover for a container which cover includes a lower absorbent pad that engages the walls of the container to seal the interior of the container.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention as read in connection With accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional, side view taken generally along the line 11 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating a cover constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view showing the cover illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional, side view taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 4 and illustrating a container for receiving the cover as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view illustrating a container as shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional, side view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the cover and container illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, respectively, assembled;

FIGURES 6-10 correspond to FIGURES l5 and illustrate a further modification of the present invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURES l and 2 illustrate an applicator cover 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which cover includes a body portion 12 having peripheral side walls 14 and a lower wall 16. Although the walls 14, 16 may have a variety of outer contours, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the walls are generally circular as shown in FIGURE 2. Extending diametrically across the wall 16 between opposite portions of side wall 14, there is provided a rib 20 which functions as a handle for manipulation of the cover 10.

Below the body portion 12 and connected onto the under surface of wall 16, there is provided an absorbent pad 30 which pad may take a variety of structural embodiments; however, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pad is formed from a synthetic, plastic foamed material. It is also within the contemplation of the invention to form the pad from natural or synthetic fibers or other such absorbent mate rials. The outer periphery of the pad 30, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, corresponds to, but, is larger than, the peripheral shape of side walls 14 as is evident from FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is illustrated a container 40 having a peripheral wall 42 which defines an internal shape 44 which shape is circular and conforms generally to the shape of the side wall 14 of cover 10. At the lowermost end of the wall 42 there is provided a base 46 which defines with the wall 42 an internal chamber within the container for receiving a paste-like or liquid material 50 having an upper surface designated as surface 52.

In the operation of the present invention, the cover 10 is reciprocally received within the container 449 with the absorbent pad 30 providing a frictional grip and a seal between the cover 10 and the wall 42. Since the cover 10 can freely reciprocate Within the container 40, the absorbent pad 30 can rest upon the upper surface 52 of the material 50. This prevents an empty space from being created above the surface 52 so the material 51 will not easily evaporate or will not oxidize to form an undesirable crust.

During shipment and before sale of the container with the material therein, it may be desirable to assemble the cover within the container in a somewhat permanent manner. An arrangement to accomplish this result is illustrated in FIGURE wherein the cover is positioned within container 40 so that the absorbent pad 30 rests upon the surface 52. In this position, the walls 14 and 42 coincide so that a sealing band 60 may be used to lock the cover onto the container. In accordance with this illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the sealing band supports a cap 62 adapted to extend over the cover 10 and provided with a downwardly extending rib 64 which abuts the upper portion of rib 20 to secure the cover within the container with the absorbent pad 30 forced against the upper surface 52 of the material. Consequently the pad is expanded radially outwardly to form a good seal for the interior of the container.

The periphery of walls 14 is so dimensioned that it substantially matches the shape 44 of the peripheral Wall 42. Accordingly, the reciprocal movement of the cover 10 within the container 40 is allowed with the pad 30 forming a friction stop to hold the cover within the container.

Referring now to FIGURES 6-10, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the cover 70 includes a peripheral wall 74 and a lower wall 75. Positioned above the lower wall and extending substantially diametrically across the wall there is provided a rib, or handle, 76 for manipulating the cover 70. Extending outwardly from the wall 74 are a plurality of resilient sealing rings 78 each having diametrically opposed air bleeding lips 79 which will be described hereinafter in detail. The lower wall 75 carries an absorbent pad 80, similar to the absorbent pad 30 shown in FIG- URE 1. The cover 70 is particularly applicable to use with a container for volatile liquids and the applicator formed by absorbent pad 80 includes an additional pad or layer 82 adapted to be used as a brush or other similar applicators for brushing or spreading the liquid in the container onto an external object. The pad or layer 82 is porous and has an appropriate surface to allow its use as an applicator while the pad 80 stores the liquid 51! and supplies the liquid through the pad 82 when it IS used as an applicator.

In accordance with this illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the cover 70 is adapted to be used with a container as is shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, which container includes a peripheral wall 92 having an internal shape 94 generally matching the shape of wall 74. To close the lower portion of the container there is provided a base 96. The side or peripheral wall 92 is provided with diametrically positioned recesses 10% for receiving the air bleeding lips 79 of the sealing rings 78 on the cover which lips and recesses are so dimensioned that the lips form seals when positioned in the recesses.

By providing the resilient sealing rings 78 around the periphery of the wall 74, the body portion 72 can cant somewhat within the container without locking the cover within the container. Accordingly, the resilient sealing rings give a smoother operation of the cover and form a seal between the container and the cover to prevent exposure of the material within the container to ambient conditions. It is appreciated that these resilient sealing rings may be provided on either the cover or the container without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention, although it is preferable to provide the rings integrally on the outer surface of I wall 74. In addition the sealing rings 78 form a friction means between the cover and container to hold the cover in any adjusted position in the container.

The assembly of this illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 10 wherein the container is filled with a liquid having an upper surface 106 and the cover 82 is positioned within the container with the absorbent pad 80 and the applicator pad 82 positioned against the upper surface 106. The lips 79 are slidably received within recesses 100 so that the vacuum created when the cover is drawn from the container can be relieved by deformation of these lips.

To seal the cover 70 onto the container 90, there is provided a sealing band 110 having an upper cap 112 and a downwardly extending rib 114 adapted to abut rib 76 to hold the pads 80, 82 against the upper surface 106.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGURES 6-10 is quite similar to the operation of the invention as shown in FIGURES 15, the cover 70 is adapted to reciprocate within the container 90 so that the pads 80, 82 can bear against the upper surface 106 irrespective of the position of this surface within the container. This completely eliminates an empty space above the liquid which could cause evaporation and deleterious oxidation of the liquid.

Referring now to FIGURE 11, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention wherein cover is provided with threaded side walls 122 and a lower wall 124 adapted to mount an absorbent pad 130. As illustrated, the absorbent pad is provided with a lower applicator pad 132 having an appropriate surface to allow use of the cover as a liquid spreading device. The cover 120 is adapted to be reciprocally received within container by interaction of the threaded side wall 122 of the cover and a threaded side wall 142 of the container. To move the cover within the container, the cover is provided with an appropriate handle 150. By utilizing this embodiment of the present invention, the cover may be cammed downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of a material within the container so that the absorbent pad 130 is forced radially outwardly into engagement with the side wall 142 of the container to provide an etficient seal between the cover and the container.

It is appreciated that the present invention pertains to an applicatofcover which may be reciprocally received within a container so that the cover may be positioned on the upper surface of a material within the container.

The present invention has been described in conjunction with certain structural embodiments; however, it is appreciated that various changes may be made without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance, except for the embodiment as shown in FIG- URE 11, the shape of .the cover and container may be changed from the circular shape shown without departing from the use of the present invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An applicator cover for a container having a base and a cover receiving chamber defined by a peripheral wall which chamber has substantially the same general shape in all planes extending through said chamber and parallel to said base, said cover comprising: a body portion with a lower wall and side walls, each of said cover walls matching said general shape and being so dimensioned to allow reciprocal movement of said body portion over the complete length of said chamber with said lower wall remaining substantially parallel with said base, and an absorbent pad secured onto said lower wall and below said body portion, said absorbent pad having a periphery generally matching said shape, and at least one resilient sealing ring extending between the peripheral wall of said container and the side wall of said cover, said ring sealing the space between said peripheral and said side walls.

2. An applicator cover as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing ring is formed integrally with said side wall of said cover and extends radially outwardly therefrom.

3. An applicator cover as defined in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said sealing rings.

4. An applicator cover as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing ring includes a radially extending deformable lip, said peripheral wall of said container having an elonagted recess extending upwardly from said base and generally perpendicular to said base, said lip and recess being so dimensioned that said lip forms a biased seal with said recess, said lip being deformed as said cover is placed into and removed from said container to relieve pressure in said chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,756 5/ 1908 Scranton 15609 X 3,067,449 12/ 1962 Weissenbach 15209 X FOREIGN PATENTS 214,103 3/1961 Austria.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPLICATOR COVER FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A BASE AND A COVER RECEIVING CHAMBER DEVINED BY A PERIPHERAL WALL WHICH CHAMBER HAS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME GENERAL SHAPE IN ALL PLANES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CHAMBER AND PARALLEL TO SAID BASE, SAID COVER COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION WITH A LOWER WALL AND SIDE WALLS, EACH OF SAID COVER WALLS MATCHING SAID GENERAL SHAPE AND BEING SO DIMENSIONED TO ALLOW RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY PORTION OVER THE COMPLETE LENGTH OF SAID CHAMBER WITH SAID LOWER WALL REMAINING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BASE, AND AN ABSORBENT PAD SECURED ONTO SAID LOWER WALL AND BELOW SAID BODY PORTION, SAID ABSORBENT PAD HAVING A PERIPHERY GENERALLY MATCHING SAID SHAPE, AND AT LEAST ONE RESILIENT SEALING RING EXTENDING BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE SIDE WALL OF SAID COVER, SAID RING SEALING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID PERIPHERAL AND SAID SIDE WALLS. 